Oil & Gas

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection released the 2017 Oil and Gas Annual Report on August 31. The report shows the number of conventional oil and gas well violations more than tripled between 2015 and 2017 from 1,024 to 3,273 last year. Of the conventional well violations in 2017, 1,803 were environmental health- and safety-related violations and 1,470 were read more

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently released its second report monitoring the environmental impacts of gas drilling on the 138,866 acres of state forest land leased specifically for shale gas development. The first shale gas monitoring report was issued in April of 2014 and covered shale gas drilling operations on state forest land from 2008 to 2012. read more

On June 22, the Pennsylvania Senate passed and sent to the governor a $32.7 billion General Fund budget bill for 2018–19 (HB 2121) that includes funding for 35 new positions at the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), but few changes in other environmental funding line items.
The fiscal code bill that follows the General Fund budget bill—this year, HB 1929—includes read more

On May 17, the Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundation (PEDF) filed a petition for declaratory relief in the Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania asking the Court to declare 2017 amendments to the fiscal code eliminating the Department of Conservation and Natural Resource's Oil and Gas Lease Fund and making and proposing $96 million in money transfers from the Fund read more

A coalition of environmental organizations held a press conference at the capitol on May 1 to unveil the Pennsylvania Common Conservation Agenda.
Saleem Chapman, campaign manager for Green in ’18, explained that 25 organizations helped craft the agenda and said it is aimed at making environmental issues are a top priority for the candidates running to be Pennsylvania’s next read more

During the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) budget hearing on February 28, Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), majority chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, suggested one funding source for an expanded Growing Greener program could be allowing additional natural gas drilling on DCNR state forest lands.
During questioning of DCNR read more

The Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) announced on January 8 that the period for written comment on proposed regulations regarding hydraulic fracturing activities in the basin has been extended from Feb. 28 to March 30, 2018. Two additional public hearings also have been scheduled in February and March.
"The commissioners believe the extended comment period and two read more

Pennsylvania has historically been, and continues to be, home to an abundant array of energy resources like oil, gas, coal, timber, and windy ridgetops. Expectedly, these natural resources are found both on publicly and privately held land.
In Pennsylvania, the bulk of public lands are managed by two separate state agencies: the Department of Conservation and Natural read more

Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today updated members of the Natural Gas Advisory Committee on the department’s ongoing efforts to monitor natural gas extraction and management on DCNR lands.
“Our Bureau of Forestry continues to provide updated information on the shale-gas industry and its effect on state forestlands, read more

Governor Wolf created a task force to focus on pipeline development. The Task Force is made up of representatives from state agencies, the legislature, federal and local governments, the pipeline and natural gas industries and environmental groups, among others. The Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection serves as Chairman.
Appointed Members | read more

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court struck down a portion of Act 13, the controversial 2012 update of the state's oil and gas law, finding that the law violated the Pennsylvania Constitution. The court ruled that the law can't force municipalities to zone to allow gas development activities that they determine would be harmful. The ruling also dealt with complaints that the law read more

Governor Corbett signed Act 13 of 2012, the "Marcellus shale bill" or House Bill 1950, into law on 2/14/2012.
Act 13's proponents point to the improvements the law makes in the regulation of natural gas activities, arguing that the law provides protections far superior to those that otherwise would have been provided under the status quo. The bill's opponents point to the read more

The Marcellus Shale Advisory Commission established by Governor Corbett and Chaired by Lt. Governor Cawley released its final report. The unanimously-adopted report contains 96 policy recommendations to Governor Corbett and the Legislature, including:
Enactment or authorization to impose a fee to mitigate to uncompensated impacts caused to communities by natural gas read more

Download Report
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has reviewed environmental violations accrued by Marcellus Shale drillers working in Pennsylvania between January 2008 and August 20, 2010. Since this report was first published, additional information has been received from the Department of Environmental Protection and report has now been updated.
DEP records show a read more

952 Identified as Most Likely to Harm the Environment
The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association has reviewed environmental violations accrued by Marcellus Shale drillers working in Pennsylvania between January 2008 and June 25, 2010. The records were obtained via a Right to Know Request made to the PA Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
DEP records show a total of read more

The Pennsylvania Land Trust Association envisions future generations enjoying—undiminished—Pennsylvania’s natural areas and open spaces. The Association envisions communities having deep connections with their urban, suburban and rural lands. The Association envisions people recognizing the health, safety, recreational, economic and other benefits delivered by land conservation.